Liquid atomizer



Sept 10, 1957 3 E 2,805,888

LIQUID ATOMIZER Filed March 15, 1956 Hat 2 United States Patent 9 LIQUIDATOMIZER Gerhard Beil, Esslingen (N eckar), Germany Application March15, 1956, Serial No. 571,687

Claims priority, application Germany November 25, 1955 9 Claims. (Cl.299-63) This invention relates to a liquid atomizer and moreparticularly to an apparatus for atomizing liquids including acentrifugal disk rapidly revolving above a bowl such that when liquid isconducted to the upper face of the centrifugal disk it is thrown against'baifles and thus atomized.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a liquid atomizerwhich is capable to atomize all liquids, preferably water, if necessary,mixed, for example, with insecticides, bactericides or aromaticsubstances, into a vapor (aerosol) for humidifying the air in rooms. Theprocess may be automatically controlled by an electric hygrometer sothat the degree of humidity can be varied at any time. For this purposethe apparatus is connected to the electric power supply as well as tothe water main and to an air supply.

Known are apparatus in which the liquid is atomized by revolving nozzlevanes such that the fine liquid particles are for the purpose ofatomizing the liquid thrown against baflies in the form of vanes.

Apparatus are also known in which the fluid is conducted upon acentrifugal disk which is slightly dished at the top, so that the liquidconducted to the center of this centrifugal disk is thrown in the formof a thin annular liquid film against baflles. A ring of curved bladestbeing used for atomizing the liquid by richocheting acion.

Aim and purpose of these known apparatus is to assist atomization of theliquid by means of a powerful air stream produced within the apparatusitself, as well as to control the amount of atomized liquid by varyingthe air stream.

Known apparatus are usually converter-shaped and the gas (air) is suckedfrom the bottom and the vapor stream is discharged through a duct at thetop.

In contradistinction thereto the present invention is characterized inthat the gap between the centrifugal disk and the bowl is, for example,screened by a casing extending from the perimeter of the centrifugaldisk. Atomizing takes place in a circular plane, and the vapor producedis also thrown circularly outwards andthereby evenly distributedthroughout the room. Thus is attained an excellent distribution of thevapor. The atomizing takes place under exclusion of detrimental aircurrents which counteract the distribution, for extensive tests haveshown that even the air current, which is produced by the rotation ofthe centrifugal disk, causes currents which misroute the vapor.

According to the present invention it is precluded that air swirls areproduced by the lower portion of the centrifugal disk, as such airswirls carry the vapor produced with them before the vapor passes thebattles and is thus uselessly returned to the suction of the centrifugaldisk. In the construction according to the present invention measureshave therefore been taken to restrain all air currents which aredetrimental to the vapor discharge from the outer surface of thecentrifugal disk; The vapor is upwardly deflected and thus loses itslarger liquid particle's which drop down into the bowl. A powerful airstream is conducive to a most thorough distribution of the vaporthroughout the entire room.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the liquid atomizer constructed inaccordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged part sectional view illustrating the arrangementof the baflles, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic section illustrating a slightly differentembodiment.

The mushroom-shaped liquid atomizer illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2comprises a dome 1 provided with flanges 1a and 1b, a plurality ofannularly arranged bolts 2, an annular sheet-metal guide vane 3, a cover4 and secured thereto an electric motor 5 comprising a shaft 6, asuction vane 7, a centrifugal disk 8 with a rotor 9 of a liquid boosterpump, furthermore a base plate 10, a bowl 11 with a guide ring 12secured thereto, a carrier 13 for the baffles 13a, bottom 13b and barrel130. A casing 8a serves for screening the air gap between centrifugaldisk 8 and bowl 11.

When the rotor 9 revolves Within the housing 14, liquid is drawn throughthe suction head 15 and line 16 and is forced into the suction space 17of this booster pump, from there the liquid is conducted through thecontrol valve 18 and line 19 to the nozzle 19a. The liquid drops uponthe centrifugal disk 8 and is then centrifugated, the droplets leavingthe centrifugal disk being thrown against the bafiles where they areonce more dispersed, when the drops are so large that they can not bekept suspended by the air.

The liquid is conducted to the bowl 11 by the line 20, the supply beingcontrolled by the float 21. The vapor stream which leaves the carrier ata high velocity is thrown against the guide ring 12. and when it hasbeen upwardly deflected thereby it loses its inherent kinetic energy.The guide ring serves for the purpose of insulating the rim of the bowl,so that the vapor will not be backed up on this rim and so that noliquid droplets will be precipitated on this rim. This arrangementsprevents efiectively that drops are formed beyond the rim of the bowlwhich would perhaps drop down on machines located underneath.

The air stream controlled by the guide vane 3, which may have a slope of5 to 60, serves for the purpose of giving again a radial component tothe vapor stream which has been upwardly deflected by the guide ring 12,which radial component will become effective when the droplets which arenot capable of entrainment in the air have been precipitated and droppedback into the bowl. By means of the suction vane 7, this air is drawnthrough the opening 22 from the collecting chamber 23 which, by means ofa pipe 24, is connected with a source of air.

This source of air may be a corner of the same room to that has beenproduced; if possible the vapor should re-.

main quietly suspendedin the air and not be subjected to turbulentmotion. In the alternative, pipe 24 may lead to the outside atmosphere(during the summer months) or connect with any other source of air, suchas an air-conditioning unit.

Thus it will be clear that the apparatus constructed in accordance withthe invention includes all means necessary for preventing that the vaporas a product of the apparatus is routed into paths which return thevapor again into the liquid stream. .For a further improvement of thiseffect, it may even be useful to the end in View to put the space 25underneath the centrifugal disk'under' high pressure which, as clearlyshown in Fig. 3, can very Patented Sept. 10, 1957.

at 31 an especially simple construction of the dome and at 38a asimplified casing underneath the centrif ge disk 8. It illustrates thatit is of great consequence to keep the air within the space underneaththe centrifugal disk absolutely calm and undisturbed.

Centrifugal disks in known apparatus operate'at 2850 R. P. M. withdiameters from 220 to 240 mm., whilst the centrifugal disk in the=liquid atomizer constructed in accordance with the present inventionmay be dimensioned from 300 to 500 mm. in diameter and yet be operatedat arranged upon the bottom of said tubular carrier, said' centrifugaldisk being a portion of a pot having an annular casing extendingangularly from the rim of said centrifugal disk in axial directionthereby forming an an.- nular gap and ending in a radially extendingannular member surrounding said barrel, such that when said centrifugaldisk is rotated at high speed by said electric motor any liquidconducted upon its upper face is thrown against said baffies and thusatomized.

2. A liquid atomizer as defined in claim 1, wherein said centrifugaldisk and said casing are made as an integral part. 7

3. In a liquid atomizer of the character described, the combination of acentrifugal disk, an electric motor for rotating said centrifugal disk,bafilesarranged above said centrifugal disk, a tubular carrier for saidbafiles, a barrel arranged upon the bottom of said tubular carrier, abowl for the liquid to be atomized, a booster pump for feeding theliquid tothe top face of said centrifugal disk, said booster pump havinga tubular housing vertically arranged upon the bottom of said bowl andextending through said barrel, saidcentrifugal disk being a portion of apot having an annular casing extending angularly from the'rirn of saidcentrifugal disk in axial direction thereby forming an annular gap andending in a radially extending annular member surrounding said barrel,and said centrifugal disk and said casing being made as an integralpart, such that when said centrifugal disk is rotated at high speed bysaid electric motor any liquid,

conducted upon its upper face is thrown against said bafiles and thusatomized.

4. In a liquid atomizerof the character described,the

combination of a centrifugal disk, an electricmotor for rotating saidcentrifugal disk, bafilcs arranged above said centrifugal disk, atubular carrier for'said bafiles, a barrel arranged upon the bottom ofsaid tubular carrier, a bowl for the liquid to be atomized, a boosterpump for feeding the liquid to the top face of said centrifugal disk,said booster pump having a tubular housing vertically ar ranged upon thebottom of said bowl and extending through said barrel, a cover. for saidcarrier arranged above said centrifugal disk, a dome-shaped member ar-'ranged upon said cover, a suction vane driven by aid electric motorarranged in the interior of said domeshaped member and adaptedfordraWingthe vapor produced into the interior of saidfdomeshape'dmemberand discharging it through a radially arranged outlet at thebottomthereof, said'centrifugal disk being a portion of afp'ot' havingan annular casing extending. angularly-from th'efrim-of, saidcentrifugaldisk in axial direction thereby fo'rrningan annular gapiandending in a radially. extend.

ing annularmember surrounding said barrel, and-said centrifugal'disk andsaid casingbeingmade asan integral part, such that when said centrifugaldisk is rotated at high speed by said electric motor any liquidconductedupon its upper face is thrown against said baflles and thus atomized. V

5. A liquid atomizer as defined in claim 4, wherein the vapor producedis drawn by said suction vane through an opening in said dome-shapedmember arranged concentrically to a shaft for carrying said suctionvane, whereas said outlet for discharging the vapor is an annular gapformed between said dome-shaped member and said cover.

6. A liquid atomizer as defined in claim 4, wherein said electric motorfor driving both said suction Kane and said centrifugal disk is arrangedupon said cover so that the vapor drawn by said suction vane flows tosaid outlet through an annular gap formed by both said domeshaped memberand said electric motor.

7. In a liquid atomizer of the character describ d, the combination of acentrifugal disk, an electric motor for rotating said centrifugal disk,baffies arranged above said centrifugal disk, a tubular carrier for saidbaflies, a barrel arranged upon the bottom of said tubular carrier, abowl for the liquid to be atomized, a booster pump for feeding theliquidto the top face of said centrifugal disk, said booster pump having atubular housing verticallyanranged upon the bottom of said bowl andextending through said barrel, a cover for said carrier arranged abovesaid centrifugal disk, a dome-shaped member ar ranged'upon said cover, asuction vane driven by .said electric motor arranged-in the interior ofsaid domeshaped member and adapted for drawing the vapor pro-- ducedinto the interior of said dome-shaped member and.

ing in a radially extending-annular member surrounding said barrel, andsaid centrifugal diskand said casing being made as an integral part,such that when said centrifugal disk is rotated at high speed :by saidelectric motor'any liquid conducted upon its upper face is thrownagainst said baflies and thus atomized.

8. A .liquid atomizer ,as defined .in :claim 7 including, the anglebetween said guide vane and the horizontal line being in the magnitudebetween 5 and 60 degrees.

9. In a liquid atomizer of ;the .character'described, the. combinationof a centrifugal disk, anelectric motor for rotating said centrifugaldisk, baflles arranged above said centrifugaldisk, a tubular carrier forsaid'baifiega -barre'l arranged upon ,the bottom of. said*tubular'carrier, a bow l for'the liquid ,to'he atomized,.atbooster-pump for feedingthe liquid to the top face of saidcentrifugal disk,-=said' boosterpump having a tubular-housingrverticallyarranged upon the bottom ofsaidrbowl and'extendingthroughsaid barrel, acover for said carrier arranged above said centrifugal disk, :adome-shaped member arranged :upon said cover, a suction vane driven .by:said electric 'motor arranged in the interior of .said dome-shapedmember and adapted ,:for drawing the vapor produced into-the interior ofsaid dome-shaped member and discharging.

it through :a radially arrangedoutlet in the form of an annulargapformed between said dome-shaped member and said cover, a :guide 'vanefor deflecting the Azapor upwardly at an oblique angle arranged upon thetop of saidcoverso-gthat said radial outlet'in the form .of'anannulargap flares 'thcreinto, said :centrifugal :disk being a portion of'a-pot having. an; annular 'casingrextending angularly from the rim,of;said centrifugal-disk in radial direction thereby forming an,annular gap and :ending in.-a .radially extending annular-membersurrounding saidtbarrel,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ProttApr. 28, 1914 Dickerson July 11, 1916 Pearce Aug. 2, 1938 Joos Jan. 9,1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 11, 1941 France Mar. 24, 1954

